Chapter 1281: True Solution of the Sword Dao

"Five minutes?"

The longsword on the stone platform couldn't help but pause.

The True Solution of the Sword Dao was the highest realm of sword comprehension, not so easily attained; without decades or centuries of accumulation, it was nearly impossible to achieve.

Even the Sword Elder back then had accumulated no less than a hundred years before succeeding!

The young man before him, who looked no more than twenty, had already reached the Upper Sword Heart, which was terrifying enough...

And now he said that with just five minutes, he could break through to the True Solution of the Sword Dao...

How could that be possible?

"Senior, don't listen to his nonsense. He's definitely stalling for time. If we don't act, I'm afraid something unexpected might happen..."

Seeing the situation spiraling out of control, Ji Lingzhen was filled with anxiety.

I summoned you, not to have you chat with the enemy... As a weapon, can't you be a bit more professional?

"Shut up!"

The longsword roared.

Hum!

Before Ji Lingzhen could react, he felt a sharp sword aura flying straight toward him.

Bang!

His face flushed, and he spat out a mouthful of blood. His entire body flew backward, and a hideous bloody gash appeared on his chest.

Struggling to stand, his body stiff, Ji Lingzhen's face turned pale.

All along, he only knew that this longsword was a top-grade sacred artifact, but he didn't know its exact level. Only when he felt the sword aura did he realize its strength was far more terrifying than he had imagined!

A single sword intent left him utterly defenseless; if it truly wanted to kill, he definitely couldn't withstand it!

"If you dare spout nonsense again, believe me, I'll kill you right now?"

The longsword snorted coldly.

No wonder it was angry.

After the Sword Elder fell, he left the sword here. To break free, two conditions had to be met.

First, fully comprehend the meaning of the 'sword' character outside; second, reach the level of True Solution in the understanding of the sword dao.

Only by fulfilling these two could one leave the stone platform and soar freely. Over the years, it had seen countless geniuses, but unfortunately, none had met the conditions.

This Ji Lingzhen not far away was the closest in several thousand years, yet he still couldn't break through to the True Solution...

If this Master Zhang could do it, there would be no need to wait any longer. Naturally, it didn't want others to delay or sabotage!

"Senior..."

Thinking that centuries of bond couldn't compare to a few words from the other, Ji Lingzhen trembled with anger and couldn't help saying, "He used Master's Divine Voice and Demonic Sound on you, deliberately bewitching you with ill intent..."

"Bewitching?"

"Yes, Senior, think about it. The True Solution of the Sword Dao is extremely difficult. How many geniuses have been stuck at this barrier, unable to achieve it? Even the Sword Elder didn't break through so easily!"

Ji Lingzhen pleaded earnestly, "He only has the Upper Sword Heart, not even reaching Half-Step True Solution. How could he possibly break through to the True Solution in a few minutes? He's clearly stalling, trying to deceive you and refine you with some special method..."

"This..."

The longsword hesitated.

What he said was true. If the True Solution of the Sword Dao were so easy to achieve, it wouldn't be called the highest threshold of swordsmanship!

Back then, the Sword Elder roamed the Empire Alliance, defeating countless sword experts, all because his understanding of the sword had reached the level of True Solution!

Such understanding, even many eight-star masters, could not achieve.

Could a twenty-year-old kid really break through?

"This guy is full of tricks; he's definitely plotting something. Better kill him now..."

Seeing it pause, Ji Lingzhen knew it was wavering and hurriedly shouted. Before he could finish, a chill ran through his body, and then he felt a magnificent sword aura shooting straight into the sky.

Rumble!

The entire Sword Pool seemed to boil. In the blink of an eye, countless sword intents flew from afar, converging toward this spot, forming a tornado.

"This is..."

Feeling his own comprehended sword intent suppressed and unable to move, his body stiff, Ji Lingzhen's face turned pale. He controlled his stiff body and looked toward the source of the sword intent.

Then he saw the young man who had just spoken. Though his eyes were closed, his entire being had turned into a sharp sword, ready to pierce the sky and annihilate anyone!

Buzz buzz buzz buzz!

Countless swords flew in from outside the formation, hovering around, prostrating on the ground as if before a king.

"Ten Thousand Swords Paying Homage... Is this the True Solution of the Sword Dao?"

His face pale, Ji Lingzhen staggered.

He had just said the other was scheming and couldn't possibly break through, and now this happened. He felt utterly bewildered.

Seven hundred years ago, he had reached Half-Step True Solution. After such a long time of research, he still couldn't break through. Yet the other had only closed his eyes and cultivated for a few minutes and achieved it...

The immense落差 made him want to collapse.

Even seeing it with his own eyes, he found it unbelievable.

"He... he comprehended the True Solution of the Sword Dao? Damn..."

Ji Lingfeng's pupils contracted, his eyes filled with panic.

He had thought the Sword Elder's sword would directly kill Zhang Xuan, but instead, its attitude was ambiguous. Now the latter had broken through... It might not kill him but instead recognize him as master!

That meant they would be in danger!

"Flee!"

Realizing this, he dared not stay. Ignoring the pain, he gritted his teeth and turned to rush out of the mist.

Although he had been summoned by Ji Lingzhen, he had memorized the route, and with the formation broken, escaping wasn't too difficult.

Rustle!

He had barely taken two steps when a chill ran through his body, and then he saw his lower half dash past him.

Turning his head, he saw Ji Lingzhen retracting his finger. The sword aura that had pierced him came from that fingertip.

After doing this, Ji Lingzhen quickly turned to the stone platform: "Senior, I was bewitched by this guy into attacking Master Zhang. In truth, you know I haven't been out for years; I've never met him before..."

"You..."

Plop!

His upper body fell to the ground, blood gushing. Ji Lingfeng's eyes bulged; even at death, he couldn't believe his own brother had personally killed him.

"Shut up, don't disturb Master Zhang's breakthrough!"

As if accustomed to killing, the longsword showed no emotional fluctuation and shouted coldly.

"Yes!"

Not daring to speak, Ji Lingzhen stood quietly in place.

Even a newcomer like Ji Lingfeng could see the sword's attitude; how could he, who had accompanied it for centuries, not understand?

The requirement to refine this sword was to comprehend the True Solution of the Sword Dao. The other had already achieved it and had even spoken the meaning of the Sword Elder's message. Refining it was only a matter of time.

Once that happened, his life would be over. So... he acted decisively, killed Ji Lingfeng, and distanced himself.

Faced with life and death, he could kill even a master, let alone a brother!

Zhang Xuan paid no attention to this. With his clone guarding him, he was fully immersed in the Heavenly Dao Sword Technique he had collected earlier.

This sword technique could be said to gather the wisdom of all sword experts within the Title Empire and even the Empire Alliance. Once learned, his entire primordial spirit seemed to become a longsword, sharp and unmatched, ready to cleave heaven and earth, unleashing awe-inspiring power.

After the primordial spirit sword formed, it seemed to gain strong control over sword-type weapons weaker than itself; with a thought, he could dominate them.

Of course, it was only the most basic control, making their spirits submit and dare not oppose him... To fully control them, he still needed to refine them.

Even so, it was terrifying!

With this ability, if he encountered a sword cultivator of equal strength, the opponent would have no way to win.

"With a deeper understanding of the sword, every move becomes sword intent... Using a sword, my combat power is nearly double that of fist or palm techniques!"

Eyes closed, feeling the sword intent flowing within him, Zhang Xuan had a clear assessment of his strength.

"As expected of the True Solution of the Sword Dao, impressive... By the way, with this strength, can I defeat my clone?"

A thought suddenly emerged.

"Forget it... I won't seek abuse!"

He shook his head.

Although he and his clone came from the same source, the other, relying on the Nine Heavens Lotus Fetus, was far stronger. Every time he felt he had improved and wanted to challenge, he found the clone had become even more powerful...

This time was no different.

He had comprehended the True Solution of the Sword Dao, but through spiritual communication, the clone had also understood it. How could he win?

If he really acted, he could imagine being beaten into a pig's head again, utterly miserable.

He slowly opened his eyes.

Then he saw over a hundred mid-grade sacred artifact longswords prostrating not far away, trembling.

"No wonder the Mu Yun Sword was so reverent toward Ma Minghai before... So that's it."

Having comprehended the True Solution, he understood why the Mu Yun Sword had trembled.

With this ability, he could easily erase the spirit of a sword; how could it not fear?

"Master Zhang, congratulations on your breakthrough... I was also bewitched by that treacherous villain Ji Lingfeng into making the wrong decision. I hope you can forgive me!"

Then he heard a voice. Turning, he saw Ji Lingzhen kneeling not far away, his eyes full of panic.

He was no match for Zhang Xuan before, and now the longsword on the stone platform was clearly biased. Coupled with the control over so many sacred artifacts, killing him was but a thought away.

"Forgive?"

Frowning, Zhang Xuan noticed that Ji Lingfeng had been killed. He turned to his clone and communicated spiritually, understanding what had happened. His brow furrowed.

Killing even his own brother, he had lost all humanity and ethics.

After instructing his clone, Zhang Xuan ignored the man and looked at the stone platform not far away.

"Master Zhang!"

The longsword was filled with excitement.

After the Sword Elder died, it had been sealed here for over ten thousand years. Although it had been asleep most of the time, it certainly didn't want to stay if it could leave.

"Master Zhang, I carry the Sword Elder's inheritance. You need to pull me out of the stone platform for it to appear..."

A thought was transmitted.

"Pull out?"

Zhang Xuan then noticed that the longsword was firmly embedded in the center of the stone platform, as if bound by something, unable to move at all.

Even with its immense strength, it couldn't break free.

"If you can't break free, how can I... pull you out?"

Puzzled, he couldn't help asking.